Maras Salt Mines: more than 3,000 pans at 09:30, community entrance
A white hillside above the valley, at 3,385 m, with stepped pans that Maras families have worked since before the Incas. The Super Sacred Valley arrives at 09:30, after Chinchero, and spends 45 minutes at the viewpoints, the marked paths and the salt shops. The Traditional doesn't come here. The entrance fee is charged by the community, in soles, and isn't part of the Boleto Turístico.
Altitude
How high are the Maras Salt Mines?
The Maras Salt Mines are at 3,385 m, 35 m above Cusco: the third highest of the tour's 7 stops.
The stops in the Super Sacred Valley's order (Chinchero → Maras → Moray → Urubamba → Ollantaytambo → Pisac) and the Taray viewpoint, visited only by the Traditional; the dashed line is Cusco, where you sleep. Altitude and altitude sickness →
What's there
Three things in 45 minutes
The pans
More than 3,000 stepped pools filled by a salty underground spring; the sun evaporates the water and leaves the salt, which families harvest by hand. In the dry season the hillside is whiter. If you're interested in the pair, see Moray and Maras in one day.
The viewpoints and paths
You walk the marked paths and the viewpoints above the hillside; access to the pans themselves is regulated by the community to protect production. The guide shows you where.
Maras salt
The community shops sell coarse, fine and bath salt. It's the lightest souvenir of the day and is paid in soles.
Photos
Maras Salt Mines, in four photos
Tap a photo to see it largeSuper Sacred Valley
09:30, after Chinchero
Thirty minutes down from the Chinchero plateau bring you to the salt pans hillside. They're visited mid-morning, with the light already high on the salt, and fifteen minutes later the bus climbs to Moray. It's one of the two stops that set the Super apart. Full itinerary →
Traditional Sacred Valley
Doesn't go to Maras
The Traditional drops into the valley via Taray and Pisac and spends more time in the village and market; Maras and Moray are off its route. If you want to see the salt pans in one day, the Super is the departure to take, back to Cusco or ending in Ollantaytambo. Moray and Maras in one day →
Practical
Before you get off the bus
| Entrance | It's charged by the Maras community, in soles, at the entrance; it isn't part of the Boleto Turístico. Entrance fees by route → |
| Sunglasses | Essential: the salt reflects the light and the high-altitude sun burns. |
| Effort | Low: paths and viewpoints with some slope. Closed shoes. |
| Shopping | Maras salt at the community shops, in soles. |
| Toilets | In the entrance area; bring small change. |
| Who doesn't visit it | Both Traditional departures. Compare routes → |
More than 3,000 stepped pans on a hillside at 3,385 m, fed by a salty underground spring. The sun evaporates the water and families of the Maras community harvest the salt by hand.
The Super Sacred Valley arrives at 09:30, after Chinchero, and stays 45 minutes; at 10:30 it's in Moray. The Traditional doesn't go to Maras.
No. The salt pans entrance is charged by the Maras community and paid separately, in soles, at the gate. We confirm the current amount on WhatsApp when you book.
You walk the marked paths and viewpoints; access to the pans themselves is regulated by the community to protect production.
In the dry season, when the pans are drying and salt covers the hillside. In the rainy season more pans hold water and the hillside looks browner.
Barely: 3,385 m against 3,350 m. You get there dropping down from Chinchero (3,762 m), then climb a little to Moray (3,500 m).
Yes, at the community shops at the entrance: coarse, fine and bath salt, in soles.
The salt pans tomorrow at 09:30
Choose your departure and get the exact pickup time for your Cusco accommodation tonight.